as in trembling
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements
suffered a shaking chill during his bout with the flu
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in twitching
a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side
gave the bottle of salad dressing a good shaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in escape
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable
condemned the government's shaking of its overseas responsibilities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in jerking
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
the bus rattled and shook as it barreled down a rutted road
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in avoiding
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
we shook our pursuers by cutting through the abandoned lot
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shaking
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 7 Feb. 2026
There were 2,684 reports sent in reporting varying levels of intensity — meaning some felt a weak or moderate shaking sensation.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
Both physical strength and constant mental attention are required for this sport in order to control heart rate and shaking in the muscles.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
German-American leader Carl Schurz (after whom the park near Gracie Mansion is named), never forgot shaking Lincoln’s giant paw in 1860.
—Harold Holzer, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
There were frost quakes with shaking and booming reported from Tennessee to Pennsylvania.
—Tammie Souza, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
Despite the callouts during the walkabout, King Charles did not appear to respond, continuing down the line of people and shaking hands, the outlet said.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
In a packed auditorium Wednesday night at the Idaho State Capitol, dozens of people with voices shaking and tears in their eyes begged lawmakers to hear their stories.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
An underage male was also found vomiting and shaking, according to the affidavit.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
The Fire Dogs and Law Hogs were united as one before kickoff, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 7 Feb. 2026
There were 2,684 reports sent in reporting varying levels of intensity — meaning some felt a weak or moderate shaking sensation.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
Figure skater Amber Glenn skated off the ice, shaking her head after an early landing bobble during today's competition.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
Both physical strength and constant mental attention are required for this sport in order to control heart rate and shaking in the muscles.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
German-American leader Carl Schurz (after whom the park near Gracie Mansion is named), never forgot shaking Lincoln’s giant paw in 1860.
—Harold Holzer, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
There were frost quakes with shaking and booming reported from Tennessee to Pennsylvania.
—Tammie Souza, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
Despite the callouts during the walkabout, King Charles did not appear to respond, continuing down the line of people and shaking hands, the outlet said.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
In a packed auditorium Wednesday night at the Idaho State Capitol, dozens of people with voices shaking and tears in their eyes begged lawmakers to hear their stories.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
An underage male was also found vomiting and shaking, according to the affidavit.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
The Fire Dogs and Law Hogs were united as one before kickoff, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 1 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaking
Noun
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Its strength ranges from mild, causing little more discomfort than a slight trembling, to severe, in which passengers or flight crew can be thrown around the cabin and risk injury if not wearing seatbelts.—
Cat Rainsford,
Popular Science,
15 Jan. 2026
-
There’s Walter’s serene cello and Marjorie’s pensive, slightly coy violin, sometimes playful or petulant or, still, a little vain and secretive — other times thin and trembling, lost in the haze of dementia.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Visit the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory for a year-round indoor escape full of lush plants.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
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But in their daring escape through the window, the crown of Empress Eugénie slipped from their grasp and was left battered on the pavement below.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The room sighs in relief a second later when Buckley reanimates, jerking and flailing like a soul possessed, grinning maniacally — all on purpose, inspired by the earlier veil snafu.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Feb. 2026
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Some signs that the carburetor is clogged on a snow blower are starting then dying a few seconds afterward, jerking, sputtering noises, and black smoke emitting from the exhaust.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The battery is reported to retain more than 90 percent of its driving range even at –40 degrees Celsius, avoiding the sharp winter degradation commonly associated with both LFP and nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
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Sokolowski also recommends avoiding misting your refrigerator with water directly—always apply it to a microfiber cloth first.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
After 10 weeks without food, Muraisi is experiencing involuntary muscular twitching and severe chest pains, according to Prisoners for Palestine, with her doctors warning of possible cardiovascular collapse.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Patients first experience twitching or weakness in a limb, as Decker did.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Kroger, Whole Foods and Walmart have announced national electronic price tag roll-outs, but adoption is still store-by-store in the Milwaukee area.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Lopez was also tied for fourth among shortstops with seven defensive runs saved and 12th with four outs above average, according to FanGraphs.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Most of the camp was enclosed with an electrified fence, to keep out the Big Men, the massive, shuddering ursids that could not be named (more on that later).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Dec. 2025
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With haunted vocal multitracking and big, shuddering beats, the album builds to a climax in which hope and fear are swept into the same rush of human experience.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
He was also charged with evading arrest the same day.—
Katey Psencik,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The teen was arrested on suspicion of crimes including assaulting a person with a semi-automatic firearm, brandishing a firearm, negligently discharging a firearm, evading a peace officer and driving under the influence of alcohol, the sheriff’s office said.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaking. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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